Inbred maize line PH0GC

ABSTRACT

An inbred maize line, designated PH0GC, the plants and seeds of inbred maize line PH0GC, methods for producing a maize plant, either inbred or hybrid, produced by crossing the inbred maize line PH0GC with itself or with another maize plant, and hybrid maize seeds and plants produced by crossing the inbred line PH0GC with another maize line or plant and to methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic maize plants produced by that method. This invention also relates to inbred maize lines derived from inbred maize line PH0GC, to methods for producing other inbred maize lines derived from inbred maize line PH0GC and to the inbred maize lines derived by the use of those methods.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application is a continuation of U. S. patent applicationSer. No. 09/759,802 filed on Jan. 12, 2001, the contents of which arehereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] This invention is in the field of maize breeding, specificallyrelating to an inbred maize line designated PH0GC.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The goal of plant breeding is to combine in a single variety orhybrid various desirable traits. For field crops, these traits mayinclude resistance to diseases and insects, tolerance to heat anddrought, reducing the time to crop maturity, greater yield, and betteragronomic quality. With mechanical harvesting of many crops, uniformityof plant characteristics such as germination and stand establishment,growth rate, maturity, and plant and ear height, is important.

[0004] Field crops are bred through techniques that take advantage ofthe plant's method of pollination. A plant is self-pollinated if pollenfrom one flower is transferred to the same or another flower of the sameplant. A plant is cross-pollinated if the pollen comes from a flower ona different plant.

[0005] Plants that have been self-pollinated and selected for type formany generations become homozygous at almost all gene loci and produce auniform population of true breeding progeny. A cross between twodifferent homozygous lines produces a uniform population of hybridplants that may be heterozygous for many gene loci. A cross of twoplants each heterozygous at a number of gene loci will produce apopulation of hybrid plants that differ genetically and will not beuniform.

[0006] Maize (zea mays L.), often referred to as corn in the UnitedStates, can be bred by both self-pollination and cross-pollinationtechniques. Maize has separate male and female flowers on the sameplant, located on the tassel and the ear, respectively. Naturalpollination occurs in maize when wind blows pollen from the tassels tothe silks that protrude from the tops of the ears.

[0007] A reliable method of controlling male fertility in plants offersthe opportunity for improved plant breeding. This is especially true fordevelopment of maize hybrids, which relies upon some sort of malesterility system. There are several options for controlling malefertility available to breeders, such as: manual or mechanicalemasculation (or detasseling), cytoplasmic male sterility, genetic malesterility, gametocides and the like.

[0008] Hybrid maize seed is typically produced by a male sterilitysystem incorporating manual or mechanical detasseling. Alternate stripsof two maize inbreds are planted in a field, and the pollen-bearingtassels are removed from one of the inbreds (female). Providing thatthere is sufficient isolation from sources of foreign maize pollen, theears of the detasseled inbred will be fertilized only from the otherinbred (male), and the resulting seed is therefore hybrid and will formhybrid plants.

[0009] The laborious, and occasionally unreliable, detasseling processcan be avoided by using cytoplasmic male-sterile (CMS) inbreds. Plantsof a CMS inbred are male sterile as a result of factors resulting fromthe cytoplasmic, as opposed to the nuclear, genome. Thus, thischaracteristic is inherited exclusively through the female parent inmaize plants, since only the female provides cytoplasm to the fertilizedseed. CMS plants are fertilized with pollen from another inbred that isnot male-sterile. Pollen from the second inbred may or may notcontribute genes that make the hybrid plants male-fertile. Seed fromdetasseled fertile maize and CMS produced seed of the same hybrid can beblended to insure that adequate pollen loads are available forfertilization when the hybrid plants are grown.

[0010] There are several methods of conferring genetic male sterilityavailable, such as multiple mutant genes at separate locations withinthe genome that confer male sterility, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos.4,654,465 and 4,727,219 to Brar et al. and chromosomal translocations asdescribed by Patterson in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,861,709 and 3,710,511. Theseand all patents referred to are incorporated by reference. In additionto these methods, Albertsen et al., of Pioneer Hi-Bred, U.S. Pat. No.5,432,068, have developed a system of nuclear male sterility whichincludes: identifying a gene which is critical to male fertility;silencing this native gene which is critical to male fertility; removingthe native promoter from the essential male fertility gene and replacingit with an inducible promoter; inserting this genetically engineeredgene back into the plant; and thus creating a plant that is male sterilebecause the inducible promoter is not “on” resulting in the malefertility gene not being transcribed. Fertility is restored by inducing,or turning “on”, the promoter, which in turn allows the gene thatconfers male fertility to be transcribed.

[0011] There are many other methods of conferring genetic male sterilityin the art, each with its own benefits and drawbacks. These methods usea variety of approaches such as delivering into the plant a geneencoding a cytotoxic substance associated with a male tissue specificpromoter or an antisense system in which a gene critical to fertility isidentified and an antisense to that gene is inserted in the plant (see:Fabinjanski, et al. EPO 89/3010153.8 Publication No. 329,308 and PCTApplication PCT/CA90/00037 published as WO 90/08828).

[0012] Another system useful in controlling male sterility makes use ofgametocides. Gametocides are not a genetic system, but rather a topicalapplication of chemicals. These chemicals affect cells that are criticalto male fertility. The application of these chemicals affects fertilityin the plants only for the growing season in which the gametocide isapplied (see Carlson, Glenn R., U.S. Pat. No. 4,936,904). Application ofthe gametocide, timing of the application and genotype specificity oftenlimit the usefulness of the approach.

[0013] Development of Maize Inbred Lines

[0014] The use of male sterile inbreds is but one factor in theproduction of maize hybrids. Plant breeding techniques known in the artand used in a maize plant breeding program include, but are not limitedto, recurrent selection, backcrossing, pedigree breeding, restrictionlength polymorphism enhanced selection, genetic marker enhancedselection and transformation. The development of maize hybrids in amaize plant breeding program requires, in general, the development ofhomozygous inbred lines, the crossing of these lines, and the evaluationof the crosses. Pedigree breeding and recurrent selection breedingmethods are used to develop inbred lines from breeding populations.Maize plant breeding programs combine the genetic backgrounds from twoor more inbred lines or various other germplasm sources into breedingpools from which new inbred lines are developed by selfing and selectionof desired phenotypes. The new inbreds are crossed with other inbredlines and the hybrids from these crosses are evaluated to determinewhich of those have commercial potential. Plant breeding and hybriddevelopment, as practiced in a maize plant breeding program, areexpensive and time consuming processes.

[0015] Pedigree breeding starts with the crossing of two genotypes, eachof which may have one or more desirable characteristics that is lackingin the other or which complements the other. If the two original parentsdo not provide all the desired characteristics, other sources can beincluded in the breeding population. In the pedigree method, superiorplants are selfed and selected in successive generations. In thesucceeding generations the heterozygous condition gives way tohomogeneous lines as a result of self-pollination and selection.Typically in the pedigree method of breeding five or more generations ofselfing and selection is practiced: F₁→F₂; F₂→F₃; F₃→F₄; F₄→F₅, etc.

[0016] Recurrent selection breeding, backcrossing for example, can beused to improve an inbred line and a hybrid which is made using thoseinbreds. Backcrossing can be used to transfer a specific desirable traitfrom one inbred or source to an inbred that lacks that trait. This canbe accomplished, for example, by first crossing a superior inbred(recurrent parent) to a donor inbred (non-recurrent parent), thatcarries the appropriate gene(s) for the trait in question. The progenyof this cross is then mated back to the superior recurrent parentfollowed by selection in the resultant progeny for the desired trait tobe transferred from the non-recurrent parent. After five or morebackcross generations with selection for the desired trait, the progenywill be homozygous for loci controlling the characteristic beingtransferred, but will be like the superior parent for essentially allother genes. The last backcross generation is then selfed to give purebreeding progeny for the gene(s) being transferred. A hybrid developedfrom inbreds containing the transferred gene(s) is essentially the sameas a hybrid developed from the same inbreds without the transferredgene(s).

[0017] Elite inbred lines, that is, pure breeding, homozygous inbredlines, can also be used as starting materials for breeding or sourcepopulations from which to develop other inbred lines. These inbred linesderived from elite inbred lines can be developed using the pedigreebreeding and recurrent selection breeding methods described earlier. Asan example, when backcross breeding is used to create these derivedlines in a maize plant breeding program, elite inbreds can be used as aparental line or starting material or source population and can serve aseither the donor or recurrent parent.

[0018] Development of Maize Hybrids

[0019] A single cross maize hybrid results from the cross of two inbredlines, each of which has a genotype that complements the genotype of theother. The hybrid progeny of the first generation is designated F₁. Inthe development of commercial hybrids in a maize plant breeding program,only the F₁ hybrid plants are sought. Preferred F₁ hybrids are morevigorous than their inbred parents. This hybrid vigor, or heterosis, canbe manifested in many polygenic traits, including increased vegetativegrowth and increased yield.

[0020] The development of a maize hybrid in a maize plant breedingprogram involves three steps: (1) the selection of plants from variousgermplasm pools for initial breeding crosses; (2) the selfing of theselected plants from the breeding crosses for several generations toproduce a series of inbred lines, which, although different from eachother, breed true and are highly uniform; and (3) crossing the selectedinbred lines with different inbred lines to produce the hybrid progeny(F₁). During the inbreeding process in maize, the vigor of the linesdecreases. Vigor is restored when two different inbred lines are crossedto produce the hybrid progeny (F₁). An important consequence of thehomozygosity and homogeneity of the inbred lines is that the hybridbetween a defined pair of inbreds will always be the same. Once theinbreds that give a superior hybrid have been identified, the hybridseed can be reproduced indefinitely as long as the homogeneity of theinbred parents is maintained.

[0021] A single cross hybrid is produced when two inbred lines arecrossed to produce the F₁ progeny. A double cross hybrid is producedfrom four inbred lines (or synthetics) crossed in pairs (A×B and C×D)and then the two F₁ hybrids are crossed again (A×B) ×(C×D). A three-waycross hybrid is produced from three inbred lines (or synthetics) wheretwo of the inbred lines (or synthetics) are crossed (A×B) and then theresulting F₁ hybrid is crossed with the third inbred (or synthetics)(A×B)×C. Much of the hybrid vigor exhibited by F₁ hybrids is lost in thenext generation (F₂). Consequently, seed from hybrids is not used forplanting stock.

[0022] Hybrid seed production requires elimination or inactivation ofpollen produced by the female parent. Incomplete removal or inactivationof the pollen provides the potential for self pollination. Thisinadvertently self pollinated seed may be unintentionally harvested andpackaged with hybrid seed.

[0023] Once the seed is planted, it is possible to identify and selectthese self pollinated plants. These self pollinated plants will begenetically equivalent to the female inbred line used to produce thehybrid.

[0024] Typically these self pollinated plants can be identified andselected due to their decreased vigor. Female selfs are identified bytheir less vigorous appearance for vegetative and/or reproductivecharacteristics, including shorter plant height, small ear size, ear andkernel shape, cob color, or other characteristics.

[0025] Identification of these self-pollinated lines can also beaccomplished through molecular marker analyses. See, “The Identificationof Female Selfs in Hybrid Maize: A Comparison Using Electrophoresis andMorphology”, Smith, J. S. C. and Wych, R. D., Seed Science andTechnology 14, pp. 1-8 (1995), the disclosure of which is expresslyincorporated herein by reference. Through these technologies, thehomozygosity of the self pollinated line can be verified by analyzingallelic composition at various loci along the genome. Those methodsallow for rapid identification of the invention disclosed herein. Seealso, “Identification of Atypical Plants in Hybrid Maize Seed byPostcontrol and Electrophoresis” Sarca, V. et al., Probleme de GeneticaTeoritica si Aplicata Vol. 20 (1) p. 29-42.

[0026] As is readily apparent to one skilled in the art, the foregoingare only some of the various ways by which the inbred can be obtained bythose looking to use the germplasm. Other means are available, and theabove examples are illustrative only.

[0027] Maize is an important and valuable field crop. Thus, a continuinggoal of plant breeders is to develop high-yielding maize hybrids thatare agronomically sound based on stable inbred lines. The reasons forthis goal are obvious: to maximize the amount of grain produced with theinputs used and minimize susceptibility of the crop to pests andenvironmental stresses. To accomplish this goal, the maize breeder mustselect and develop superior inbred parental lines for producing hybrids.This requires identification and selection of genetically uniqueindividuals that occur in a segregating population. The segregatingpopulation is the result of a combination of crossover events plus theindependent assortment of specific combinations of alleles at many geneloci that results in specific genotypes. The probability of selectingany one individual with a specific genotype from a breeding cross isinfinitesimal due to the large number of segregating genes and theunlimited recombinations of these genes, some of which may be closelylinked. However, the genetic variation among individual progeny of abreeding cross allows for the identification of rare and valuable newgenotypes. These new genotypes are neither predictable nor incrementalin value, but rather the result of manifested genetic variation combinedwith selection methods, environments and the actions of the breeder.

[0028] Thus, even if the entire genotypes of the parents of the breedingcross were characterized and a desired genotype known, only a few if anyindividuals having the desired genotype may be found in a largesegregating F₂ population. Typically, however, neither the genotypes ofthe breeding cross parents nor the desired genotype to be selected isknown in any detail. In addition to the preceding problem, it is notknown how the genotype would react with the environment. This genotypeby environment interaction is an important, yet unpredictable, factor inplant breeding. A breeder of ordinary skill in the art cannot predictthe genotype, how that genotype will interact with various climaticconditions or the resulting phenotypes of the developing lines, exceptperhaps in a very broad and general fashion. A breeder of ordinary skillin the art would also be unable to recreate the same line twice from thevery same original parents as the breeder is unable to direct how thegenomes combine or how they will interact with the environmentalconditions. This unpredictability results in the expenditure of largeamounts of research resources in the development of a superior new maizeinbred line.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0029] According to the invention, there is provided a novel inbredmaize line, designated PH0GC. This invention thus relates to the seedsof inbred maize line PH0GC, to the plants of inbred maize line PH0GC, tomethods for producing a maize plant produced by crossing the inbredmaize line PH0GC with itself or another maize line, and to methods forproducing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or moretransgenes and to the transgenic maize plants produced by that method.This invention also relates to inbred maize lines derived from inbredmaize line PH0GC, to methods for producing other inbred maize linesderived from inbred maize line PH0GC and to the inbred maize linesderived by the use of those methods. This invention further relates tohybrid maize seeds and plants produced by crossing the inbred line PH0GCwith another maize line.

[0030] Definitions

[0031] In the description and examples that follow, a number of termsare used herein. In order to provide a clear and consistentunderstanding of the specification and claims, including the scope to begiven such terms, the following definitions are provided. NOTE: ABS isin absolute terms and % MN is percent of the mean for the experiments inwhich the inbred or hybrid was grown. These designators will follow thedescriptors to denote how the values are to be interpreted. Below arethe descriptors used in the data tables included herein.

[0032] ABTSTK=ARTIFICIAL BRITTLE STALK. A count of the number of“snapped” plants per plot following machine snapping. A snapped planthas its stalk completely snapped at a node between the base of the plantand the node above the ear. Expressed as percent of plants that did notsnap.

[0033] ANT ROT=ANTHRACNOSE STALK ROT (Colletotrichum graminicola). A 1to 9 visual rating indicating the resistance to Anthracnose Stalk Rot. Ahigher score indicates a higher resistance.

[0034] BAR PLT=BARREN PLANTS. The percent of plants per plot that werenot barren (lack ears).

[0035] BRT STK=BRITTLE STALKS. This is a measure of the stalk breakagenear the time of pollination, and is an indication of whether a hybridor inbred would snap or break near the time of flowering under severewinds. Data are presented as percentage of plants that did not snap.

[0036] BU ACR=YIELD (BUSHELS/ACRE). Yield of the grain at harvest inbushels per acre adjusted to 15.5% moisture.

[0037] CLD TST=COLD TEST. The percent of plants that germinate undercold test conditions.

[0038] CLN=CORN LETHAL NECROSIS. Synergistic interaction of maizechlorotic mottle virus (MCMV) in combination with either maize dwarfmosaic virus (MDMV-A or MDMV-B) or wheat streak mosaic virus (WSMV). A 1to 9 visual rating indicating the resistance to Corn Lethal Necrosis. Ahigher score indicates a higher resistance.

[0039] COM RST=COMMON RUST (Puccinia sorghi). A 1 to 9 visual ratingindicating the resistance to Common Rust. A higher score indicates ahigher resistance.

[0040] D/D=DRYDOWN. This represents the relative rate at which a hybridwill reach acceptable harvest moisture compared to other hybrids on a1-9 rating scale. A high score indicates a hybrid that dries relativelyfast while a low score indicates a hybrid that dries slowly.

[0041] DIP ERS=DIPLODIA EAR MOLD SCORES (Diplodia maydis and Diplodiamacrospora). A 1 to 9 visual rating indicating the resistance toDiplodia Ear Mold. A higher score indicates a higher resistance.

[0042] DIPROT=DIPLODIA STALK ROT SCORE. Score of stalk rot severity dueto Diplodia (Diplodia maydis). Expressed as a 1 to 9 score with 9 beinghighly resistant.

[0043] DRP EAR=DROPPED EARS. A measure of the number of dropped ears perplot and represents the percentage of plants that did not drop earsprior to harvest.

[0044] D/T=DROUGHT TOLERANCE. This represents a 1-9 rating for droughttolerance, and is based on data obtained under stress conditions. A highscore indicates good drought tolerance and a low score indicates poordrought tolerance.

[0045] EAR HT=EAR HEIGHT. The ear height is a measure from the ground tothe highest placed developed ear node attachment and is measured ininches.

[0046] EAR MLD=General Ear Mold. Visual rating (1-9 score) where a “1”is very susceptible and a “9” is very resistant. This is based onoverall rating for ear mold of mature ears without determining thespecific mold organism, and may not be predictive for a specific earmold.

[0047] EAR SZ=EAR SIZE. A 1 to 9 visual rating of ear size. The higherthe rating the larger the ear size.

[0048] EBTSTK=EARLY BRITTLE STALK. A count of the number of “snapped”plants per plot following severe winds when the corn plant isexperiencing very rapid vegetative growth in the V5-V8 stage. Expressedas percent of plants that did not snap.

[0049] ECB 1LF=EUROPEAN CORN BORER FIRST GENERATION LEAF FEEDING(Ostrinia nubilalis). A 1 to 9 visual rating indicating the resistanceto preflowering leaf feeding by first generation European Corn Borer. Ahigher score indicates a higher resistance.

[0050] ECB 2IT=EUROPEAN CORN BORER SECOND GENERATION INCHES OF TUNNELING(Ostrinia nubilalis). Average inches of tunneling per plant in thestalk.

[0051] ECB 2SC=EUROPEAN CORN BORER SECOND GENERATION (Ostrinianubilalis). A 1 to 9 visual rating indicating post flowering degree ofstalk breakage and other evidence of feeding by European Corn Borer,Second Generation. A higher score indicates a higher resistance.

[0052] ECB DPE=EUROPEAN CORN BORER DROPPED EARS (Ostrinia nubilalis).Dropped ears due to European Corn Borer. Percentage of plants that didnot drop ears under second generation corn borer infestation.

[0053] EGR WTH=EARLY GROWTH. This is a measure of the relative heightand size of a corn seedling at the 2-4 leaf stage of growth. This is avisual rating (1 to 9), with 1 being weak or slow growth, 5 beingaverage growth and 9 being strong growth. Taller plants, wider leaves,more green mass and darker color constitute higher score.

[0054] ERTLDG=EARLY ROOT LODGING. Count for severity of plants that leanfrom a vertical axis at an approximate 30 degree angle or greater whichtypically results from strong winds prior to or around floweringrecorded within 2 weeks of a wind event. Expressed as percent of plantsnot lodged.

[0055] ERTLSC=EARLY ROOT LODGING SCORE. Score for severity of plantsthat lean from a vertical axis at an approximate 30 degree angle orgreater which typically results from strong winds prior to or aroundflowering recorded within 2 weeks of a wind event. Expressed as a 1 to 9score with 9 being no lodging.

[0056] EST CNT=EARLY STAND COUNT. This is a measure of the standestablishment in the spring and represents the number of plants thatemerge on per plot basis for the inbred or hybrid.

[0057] EYE SPT=Eye Spot (Kabatiella zeae or Aureobasidium zeae). A 1 to9 visual rating indicating the resistance to Eye Spot. A higher scoreindicates a higher resistance.

[0058] FUS ERS=FUSARIUM EAR ROT SCORE (Fusarium moniliforme or Fusariumsubglutinans). A 1 to 9 visual rating indicating the resistance toFusarium ear rot. A higher score indicates a higher resistance.

[0059] GDU=Growing Degree Units. Using the Barger Heat Unit Theory,which assumes that maize growth occurs in the temperature range 50°F.-86° F. and that temperatures outside this range slow down growth; themaximum daily heat unit accumulation is 36 and the minimum daily heatunit accumulation is 0. The seasonal accumulation of GDU is a majorfactor in determining maturity zones.

[0060] GDU SHD=GDU TO SHED. The number of growing degree units (GDUs) orheat units required for an inbred line or hybrid to have approximately50 percent of the plants shedding pollen and is measured from the timeof planting. Growing degree units are calculated by the Barger Method,where the heat units for a 24-hour period are:${GDU} = {\frac{\text{(Max. temp,} + \text{Min. temp.)}}{2} - 50}$

[0061] The highest maximum temperature used is 86° F. and the lowestminimum temperature used is 50° F. For each inbred or hybrid it takes acertain number of GDUs to reach various stages of plant development.

[0062] GDU SLK=GDU TO SILK. The number of growing degree units requiredfor an inbred line or hybrid to have approximately 50 percent of theplants with silk emergence from time of planting. Growing degree unitsare calculated by the Barger Method as given in GDU SHD definition.

[0063] GIB ERS=GIBBERELLA EAR ROT (PINK MOLD) (Gibberella zeae). A 1 to9 visual rating indicating the resistance to Gibberella Ear Rot. Ahigher score indicates a higher resistance.

[0064] GIBROT=GIBBERELLA STALK ROT SCORE. Score of stalk rot severitydue to Gibberella (Gibberella zeae). Expressed as a 1 to 9 score with 9being highly resistant.

[0065] GLF SPT=Gray Leaf Spot (Cercospora zeae-maydis). A 1 to 9 visualrating indicating the resistance to Gray Leaf Spot. A higher scoreindicates a higher resistance.

[0066] GOS WLT=Goss' Wilt (Corynebacterium nebraskense). A 1 to 9 visualrating indicating the resistance to Goss' Wilt. A higher score indicatesa higher resistance.

[0067] GRN APP=GRAIN APPEARANCE. This is a 1 to 9 rating for the generalappearance of the shelled grain as it is harvested based on such factorsas the color of harvested grain, any mold on the grain, and any crackedgrain. High scores indicate good grain quality.

[0068] H/POP=YIELD AT HIGH DENSITY. Yield ability at relatively highplant densities on 1-9 relative rating system with a higher numberindicating the hybrid responds well to high plant densities for yieldrelative to other hybrids. A 1, 5, and 9 would represent very poor,average, and very good yield response, respectively, to increased plantdensity.

[0069] HC BLT=HELMINTHOSPORIUM- CARBONUM LEAF BLIGHT (Helminthosporiumcarbonum). A 1 to 9 visual rating indicating the resistance toHelminthosporium infection. A higher score indicates a higherresistance.

[0070] HD SMT=HEAD SMUT (Sphacelotheca reiliana). This score indicatesthe percentage of plants not infected.

[0071] HSK CVR=HUSK COVER. A 1 to 9 score based on performance relativeto key checks, with a score of 1 indicating very short husks, tip of earand kernels showing; 5 is intermediate coverage of the ear under mostconditions, sometimes with thin husk; and a 9 has husks extending andclosed beyond the tip of the ear. Scoring can best be done nearphysiological maturity stage or any time during dry down untilharvested.

[0072] INC D/A=GROSS INCOME (DOLLARS PER ACRE). Relative income per acreassuming drying costs of two cents per point above 15.5 percent harvestmoisture and current market price per bushel.

[0073] INCOME/ACRE. Income advantage of hybrid to be patented over otherhybrid on per acre basis.

[0074] INC ADV=GROSS INCOME ADVANTAGE. GROSS INCOME advantage of variety#1 over variety #2.

[0075] KSZ DCD=KERNEL SIZE DISCARD. The percent of discard seed;calculated as the sum of discarded tip kernels and extra large kernels.

[0076] L/POP=YIELD AT LOW DENSITY. Yield ability at relatively low plantdensities on a 1-9 relative system with a higher number indicating thehybrid responds well to low plant densities for yield relative to otherhybrids. A 1, 5, and 9 would represent very poor, average, and very goodyield response, respectively, to low plant density.

[0077] LRTLDG=LATE ROOT LODGING. Count for severity of plants that leanfrom a vertical axis at an approximate 30 degree angle or greater whichtypically results from strong winds after flowering. Recorded prior toharvest when a root-lodging event has occurred. This lodging results inplants that are leaned or “lodged” over at the base of the plant and donot straighten or “goose-neck” back to a vertical position. Expressed aspercent of plants not lodged.

[0078] LRTLSC=LATE ROOT LODGING SCORE. Score for severity of plants thatlean from a vertical axis at an approximate 30 degree angle or greaterwhich typically results from strong winds after flowering. Recordedprior to harvest when a root-lodging event has occurred. This lodgingresults in plants that are leaned or “lodged” over at the base of theplant and do not straighten or “goose-neck” back to a vertical position.Expressed as a 1 to 9 score with 9 being no lodging.

[0079] MDM CPX=MAIZE DWARF MOSAIC COMPLEX (MDMV=Maize Dwarf Mosaic Virusand MCDV=Maize Chlorotic Dwarf Virus). A 1 to 9 visual rating indicatingthe resistance to Maize Dwarf Mosaic Complex. A higher score indicates ahigher resistance.

[0080] MST=HARVEST MOISTURE. The moisture is the actual percentagemoisture of the grain at harvest.

[0081] MST ADV=MOISTURE ADVANTAGE. The moisture advantage of variety #1over variety #2 as calculated by: MOISTURE of variety #2 −MOISTURE ofvariety #1=MOISTURE ADVANTAGE of variety #1.

[0082] NLF BLT=Northern Leaf Blight (Helminthosporium turcicum orExserohilum turcicum). A 1 to 9 visual rating indicating the resistanceto Northern Leaf Blight. A higher score indicates a higher resistance.

[0083] OILT=GRAIN OIL. Absolute value of oil content of the kernel aspredicted by Near-Infrared Transmittance and expressed as a percent ofdry matter.

[0084] PLT HT=PLANT HEIGHT. This is a measure of the height of the plantfrom the ground to the tip of the tassel in inches.

[0085] POL SC=POLLEN SCORE. A 1 to 9 visual rating indicating the amountof pollen shed. The higher the score the more pollen shed.

[0086] POL WT=POLLEN WEIGHT. This is calculated by dry weight of tasselscollected as shedding commences minus dry weight from similar tasselsharvested after shedding is complete.

[0087] POP K/A=PLANT POPULATIONS. Measured as 1000s per acre.

[0088] POP ADV=PLANT POPULATION ADVANTAGE. The plant populationadvantage of variety #1 over variety #2 as calculated by PLANTPOPULATION of variety #2 −PLANT POPULATION of variety #1=PLANTPOPULATION ADVANTAGE of variety #1.

[0089] PRM=PREDICTED RELATIVE MATURITY. This trait, predicted relativematurity, is based on the harvest moisture of the grain. The relativematurity rating is based on a known set of checks and utilizes standardlinear regression analyses and is also referred to as the ComparativeRelative Maturity Rating System that is similar to the MinnesotaRelative Maturity Rating System.

[0090] PRM SHD=A relative measure of the growing degree units (GDU)required to reach 50% pollen shed. Relative values are predicted valuesfrom the linear regression of observed GDU's on relative maturity ofcommercial checks.

[0091] PROT=GRAIN PROTEIN. Absolute value of protein content of thekernel as predicted by Near-Infrared Transmittance and expressed as apercent of dry matter.

[0092] RT LDG=ROOT LODGING. Root lodging is the percentage of plantsthat do not root lodge; plants that lean from the vertical axis at anapproximately 30 degree angle or greater would be counted as rootlodged.

[0093] RTL ADV=ROOT LODGING ADVANTAGE. The root lodging advantage ofvariety #1 over variety #2.

[0094] SCT GRN=SCATTER GRAIN. A 1 to 9 visual rating indicating theamount of scatter grain (lack of pollination or kernel abortion) on theear. The higher the score the less scatter grain.

[0095] SDG VGR=SEEDLING VIGOR. This is the visual rating (1 to 9) of theamount of vegetative growth after emergence at the seedling stage(approximately five leaves). A higher score indicates better vigor.

[0096] SEL IND=SELECTION INDEX. The selection index gives a singlemeasure of the hybrid's worth based on information for up to fivetraits. A maize breeder may utilize his or her own set of traits for theselection index. One of the traits that is almost always included isyield. The selection index data presented in the tables represent themean value averaged across testing stations.

[0097] SLF BLT=SOUTHERN LEAF BLIGHT (Helminthosporium maydis orBipolaris maydis). A 1 to 9 visual rating indicating the resistance toSouthern Leaf Blight. A higher score indicates a higher resistance.

[0098] SOU RST=SOUTHERN RUST (Puccinia polysora). A 1 to 9 visual ratingindicating the resistance to Southern Rust. A higher score indicates ahigher resistance.

[0099] STA GRN=STAY GREEN. Stay green is the measure of plant healthnear the time of black layer formation (physiological maturity). A highscore indicates better late-season plant health.

[0100] STD ADV=STALK STANDING ADVANTAGE. The advantage of variety #1over variety #2 for the trait STK CNT.

[0101] STK CNT=NUMBER OF PLANTS. This is the final stand or number ofplants per plot.

[0102] STK LDG=STALK LODGING. This is the percentage of plants that didnot stalk lodge (stalk breakage) as measured by either natural lodgingor pushing the stalks and determining the percentage of plants thatbreak below the ear.

[0103] STKLDL=LATE SEASON STALK LODGING. A plant is considered as stalklodged if the stalk is broken or crimped between the ear and the ground.This can be caused by any or a combination of the following: strongwinds late in the season, disease pressure within the stalks, ECB damageor genetically weak stalks. This trait should be taken when the grainmoisture content of the experiment is between 15% to 18%. Expressed aspercent of plants that did not stalk lodge.

[0104] STKLDS=REGULAR STALK LODGING SCORE. A plant is considered asstalk lodged if the stalk is broken or crimped between the ear and theground. This can be caused by any or a combination of the following:strong winds late in the season, disease pressure within the stalks, ECBdamage or genetically weak stalks. This trait should be taken just priorto or at harvest. Expressed on a 1 to 9 scale with 9 being no lodging.

[0105] STRT=GRAIN STARCH. Absolute value of starch content of the kernelas predicted by Near-Infrared Transmittance and expressed as a percentof dry matter.

[0106] STW WLT=Stewart's Wilt (Erwinia stewartii). A 1 to 9 visualrating indicating the resistance to Stewart's Wilt. A higher scoreindicates a higher resistance.

[0107] TAS BLS=TASSEL BLAST. A 1 to 9 visual rating was used to measurethe degree of blasting (necrosis due to heat stress) of the tassel atthe time of flowering. A 1 would indicate a very high level of blastingat time of flowering, while a 9 would have no tassel blasting.

[0108] TAS SZ=TASSEL SIZE. A 1 to 9 visual rating was used to indicatethe relative size of the tassel. The higher the rating the larger thetassel.

[0109] TAS WT=TASSEL WEIGHT. This is the average weight of a tassel(grams) just prior to pollen shed.

[0110] TEX EAR=EAR TEXTURE. A 1 to 9 visual rating was used to indicatethe relative hardness (smoothness of crown) of mature grain. A 1 wouldbe very soft (extreme dent) while a 9 would be very hard (flinty or verysmooth crown).

[0111] TILLER=TILLERS. A count of the number of tillers per plot thatcould possibly shed pollen was taken. Data are given as a percentage oftillers: number of tillers per plot divided by number of plants perplot.

[0112] TST WT=TEST WEIGHT (UNADJUSTED). The measure of the weight of thegrain in pounds for a given volume (bushel).

[0113] TST WTA=TEST WEIGHT ADJUSTED. The measure of the weight of thegrain in pounds for a given volume (bushel) adjusted for 15.5 percentmoisture.

[0114] TSW ADV=TEST WEIGHT ADVANTAGE. The test weight advantage ofvariety #1 over variety #2.

[0115] WIN M %=PERCENT MOISTURE WINS.

[0116] WIN Y %=PERCENT YIELD WINS.

[0117] YLD=YIELD. It is the same as BU ACR ABS.

[0118] YLD ADV=YIELD ADVANTAGE. The yield advantage of variety #1 overvariety #2 as calculated by: YIELD of variety #1−YIELD variety #2=yieldadvantage of variety #1.

[0119] YLD SC=YIELD SCORE. A 1 to 9 visual rating was used to give arelative rating for yield based on plot ear piles. The higher the ratingthe greater visual yield appearance.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0120] Inbred maize lines are typically developed for use in theproduction of hybrid maize lines. Inbred maize lines need to be highlyhomogeneous, homozygous and reproducible to be useful as parents ofcommercial hybrids. There are many analytical methods available todetermine the homozygotic and phenotypic stability of these inbredlines.

[0121] The oldest and most traditional method of analysis is theobservation of phenotypic traits. The data is usually collected in fieldexperiments over the life of the maize plants to be examined. Phenotypiccharacteristics most often observed are for traits associated with plantmorphology, ear and kernel morphology, insect and disease resistance,maturity, and yield.

[0122] In addition to phenotypic observations, the genotype of a plantcan also be examined. There are many laboratory-based techniquesavailable for the analysis, comparison and characterization of plantgenotype; among these are Isozyme Electrophoresis, Restriction FragmentLength Polymorphisms (RFLPs), Randomly Amplified Polymorphic DNAs(RAPDs), Arbitrarily Primed Polymerase Chain Reaction (AP-PCR), DNAAmplification Fingerprinting (DAF), Sequence Characterized AmplifiedRegions (SCARs), Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphisms (AFLPs), andSimple Sequence Repeats (SSRs) which are also referred to asMicrosatellites.

[0123] The most widely used of these laboratory techniques are IsozymeElectrophoresis and RFLPs as discussed in Lee, M., “Inbred Lines ofMaize and Their Molecular Markers,” The Maize Handbook,(Springer-Verlag, New York, Inc. 1994, at 423-432) incorporated hereinby reference. Isozyme Electrophoresis is a useful tool in determininggenetic composition, although it has relatively low number of availablemarkers and the low number of allelic variants among maize inbreds.RFLPs have the advantage of revealing an exceptionally high degree ofallelic variation in maize and the number of available markers is almostlimitless.

[0124] Maize RFLP linkage maps have been rapidly constructed and widelyimplemented in genetic studies. One such study is described inBoppenmaier, et al., “Comparisons among strains of inbreds for RFLPs”,Maize Genetics Cooperative Newsletter, 65:1991, pg. 90, is incorporatedherein by reference. This study used 101 RFLP markers to analyze thepatterns of 2 to 3 different deposits each of five different inbredlines. The inbred lines had been selfed from 9 to 12 times before beingadopted into 2 to 3 different breeding programs. It was results fromthese 2 to 3 different breeding programs that supplied the differentdeposits for analysis. These five lines were maintained in the separatebreeding programs by selfing or sibbing and rogueing off-type plants foran additional one to eight generations. After the RFLP analysis wascompleted, it was determined the five lines showed 0-2% residualheterozygosity. Although this was a relatively small study, it can beseen using RFLPs that the lines had been highly homozygous prior to theseparate strain maintenance.

[0125] Inbred maize line PH0GC is a yellow, flint maize inbred that issuited as a male for producing first generation F1 maize hybrids. Inbredmaize line PH0GC is best adapted to Northern Alberta, Canada, NorthernSaskatchewan, Canada, Northern Russia, and Siberia and can be used toproduce hybrids from approximately 70 relative maturity based on theComparative Relative Maturity Rating System for harvest moisture ofgrain. Inbred maize line PH0GC demonstrates very early flowering andgood flint grain texture as an inbred per se. In hybrid combination,including for its area of adaptation, inbred PH0GC demonstrates earlyflowering.

[0126] The inbred has shown uniformity and stability within the limitsof environmental influence for all the traits as described in theVariety Description Information (Table 1) that follows. The inbred hasbeen self-pollinated and ear-rowed a sufficient number of generationswith careful attention paid to uniformity of plant type to ensure thehomozygosity and phenotypic stability necessary to use in commercialproduction. The line has been increased both by hand and in isolatedfields with continued observation for uniformity. No variant traits havebeen observed or are expected in PH0GC.

[0127] Inbred maize line PH0GC, being substantially homozygous, can bereproduced by planting seeds of the line, growing the resulting maizeplants under self-pollinating or sib-pollinating conditions withadequate isolation, and harvesting the resulting seed, using techniquesfamiliar to the agricultural arts. TABLE 1 VARIETY DESCRIPTIONINFORMATION VARIETY = PH0GC Standard Sample Deviation Size 1. TYPE:(describe intermediate types in Comments section): 3 1 = Sweet 2 = Dent3 = Flint 4 = Flour 5 = Pop 6 = Ornamental 2. MATURITY: DAYS HEAT UNITS056 0,959.3 From emergence to 50% of plants in silk 057 0,986.7 Fromemergence to 50% of plants in pollen 003 0,069.7 From 10% to 90% pollenshed From 50% silk to harvest at 25% moisture 3. PLANT: 0,163.0 cm PlantHeight (to tassel tip) 10.82 15 0,050.7 cm Ear Height (to base of topear node) 16.04 15 0,014.5 cm Length of Top Ear Internode 1.17 15 0.0Average Number of Tillers 0.04 3 0.5 Average Number of Ears per Stalk0.20 3 4.0 Anthocyanin of Brace Roots: 1 = Absent 2 = Faint 3 = Moderate4 = Dark 5 = Very Dark 4. LEAF: 007.4 cm Width of Ear Node Leaf 0.20 15061.8 cm Length of Ear Node Leaf 0.72 15 04.0 Number of leaves above topear 0.00 15 028.7 Degrees Leaf Angle (measure from 2nd leaf above 8.4415 ear at anthesis to stalk above leaf) 03 Leaf Color Dark Green(Munsell code) 5GY34 1.3 Leaf Sheath Pubescence (Rate on scale from 1 =none to 9 = like peach fuzz) Marginal Waves (Rate on scale from 1 = noneto 9 = many) Longitudinal Creases (Rate on scale from 1 = none to 9 =many) 5. TASSEL: 05.4 Number of Primary Lateral Branches 0.20 15 033.7Branch Angle from Central Spike 5.60 15 53.9 cm Tassel Length (from topleaf collar to tassel tip) 3.41 15 3.0 Pollen Shed (rate on scale from 0= male sterile to 9 = heavy shed) 17 Anther Color Purple (Munsell code)10RP28 17 Glume Color Purple (Munsell code) 7.5RP36 1.0 Bar Glumes(Glume Bands): 1 = Absent 2 = Present 22 cm Peduncle Length (cm. fromtop leaf to basal branches) 6a. EAR (Unhusked Data): 14 Silk Color (3days after emergence) Red (Munsell code) 10RP36 Fresh Husk Color (25days after 50% silking) (Munsell code) 21 Dry Husk Color (65 days after50% silking) Buff (Munsell code) 5Y92 3 Position of Ear at Dry HuskStage: 1 = Upright 2 = Horizontal Pendant 3 = Pendant 3 Husk Tightness(Rate of Scale from 1 = very loose to 9 = very tight) 2 Husk Extension(at harvest): 1 = Short (ears exposed) 2 = Medium (<8 cm) 3 = Long (8-10cm beyond ear tip) 4 = Very Long (>10 cm) Medium 6b. EAR (Husked EarData): 11 cm Ear Length 0.58 15 28 mm Ear Diameter at mid-point 1.15 1529 gm Ear Weight 7.55 15 11 Number of Kernel Rows 1.00 15 2 Kernel Rows:1 = Indistinct 2 = Distinct Distinct 2 Row Alignment: 1 = Straight 2 =Slightly Curved 3 = Spiral Slightly Curved 8 cm Shank Length 3.06 15 2Ear Taper: 1 = Slight 2 = Average 3 = Extreme Average 7. KERNEL (Dried):7 mm Kernel Length 0.00 15 7 mm Kernel Width 0.00 15 6 mm KernelThickness 0.58 15 30 % Round Kernels (Shape Grade) 4.95 2 1 AleuroneColor Pattern: 1 = Homozygous 2 = Segregating Homozygous 7 AlueroneColor Yellow (Munsell code) 1.25Y814 7 Hard Endosperm Color Yellow(Munsell code) 1.25Y812 3 Endosperm Type: Normal Starch 1 = Sweet (Su1)2 = Extra Sweet (sh2) 3 = Normal Starch 4 = High Amylose Starch 5 = WaxyStarch 6 = High Protein 7 = High Lysine 8 = Super Sweet (se) 9 = HighOil 10 = Other           16 gm Weight per 100 Kernels (unsized sample)1.00 3 8. COB: 22 mm Cob Diameter at mid-point 0.58 15 19 Cob ColorWhite (Munsell code) 5Y91 9. DISEASE RESISTANCE (Rate from 1 (mostsusceptible) to 9 (most resistant); leave blank if not tested; leaveRace or Strain Options blank if polygenic): A. Leaf Blights, Wilts, andLocal Infection Diseases  Anthracnose Leaf Blight (Colletotrichumgraminicola)  Common Rust (Puccinia sorghi)  Common Smut (Ustilagomaydis)  Eyespot (Kabatiella zeae)  Goss's Wilt (Clavibactermichiganense spp. nebraskense)  Gray Leaf Spot (Cercospora zeae-maydis) Helminthosporium Leaf Spot (Bipolaris zeicola) Race      Northern LeafBlight (Exserohilum turcicum) Race      Southern Leaf Blight (Bipolarismaydis) Race      Southern Rust (Puccinia polysora)  Stewart's Wilt(Erwinia stewartii)  Other (Specify)           B. Systemic Diseases Corn Lethal Necrosis (MCMV and MDMV)  Head Smut (Sphacelothecareiliana)  Maize Chlorotic Dwarf Virus (MDV)  Maize Chlorotic MottleVirus (MCMV)  Maize Dwarf Mosaic Virus (MDMV)  Sorghum Downy Mildew ofCorn (Peronosclerospora sorghi)  Other (Specify)           C. Stalk Rots Anthracnose Stalk Rot (Colletotrichum graminicola)  Diplodia Stalk Rot(Stenocarpella maydis)  Fusarium Stalk Rot (Fusarium moniliforme) Gibberella Stalk Rot (Gibberella zeae)  Other (Specify)           D.Ear and Kernel Rots  Aspergillus Ear and Kernel Rot (Aspergillus flavus) Diplodia Ear Rot (Stenocarpella maydis)  Fusarium Ear and Kernel Rot(Fusarium moniliforme)  Gibberella Ear Rot (Gibberella zeae)  Other(Specify)           10. INSECT RESISTANCE (Rate from 1 (mostsusceptible) to 9 (most resistant); (leave blank if not tested): Banksgrass Mite (Oligonychus pratensis)  Corn Worm (Helicoverpa zea)   LeafFeeding   Silk Feeding    mg larval wt.  Ear Damage  Corn Leaf Aphid(Rhopalosiphum maidis)  Corn Sap Beetle (Carpophilus dimidiatus European Corn Borer (Ostrinia nubilalis)   1st Generation (TypicallyWhorl Leaf Feeding)   2nd Generation (Typically Leaf Sheath-CollarFeeding)   Stalk Tunneling  cm tunneled/plant  Fall Armyworm (Spodopterafruqiperda)   Leaf Feeding   Silk Feeding   mg larval wt.  Maize Weevil(Sitophilus zeamaize  Northern Rootworm (Diabrotica barberi)  SouthernRootworm (Diabrotica undecimpunctata)  Southwestern Corn Borer(Diatreaea grandiosella)   Leaf Feeding   Stalk Tunneling   cmtunneled/plant  Two-spotted Spider Mite (Tetranychus urticae)  WesternRootworm (Diabrotica virgifrea virgifera)  Other (Specify)           11.AGRONOMIC TRAITS:  Staygreen (at 65 days after anthesis) (Rate on ascale from 1 = worst to 9 = excellent)  % Dropped Ears (at 65 days afteranthesis)  % Pre-anthesis Brittle Snapping  % Pre-anthesis Root Lodging Post-anthesis Root Lodging (at 65 days after anthesis)  Kg/ha Yield (at12-13% grain moisture)

FURTHER EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0128] This invention also is directed to methods for producing a maizeplant by crossing a first parent maize plant with a second parent maizeplant wherein either the first or second parent maize plant is an inbredmaize plant of the line PH0GC. Further, both first and second parentmaize plants can come from the inbred maize line PH0GC. Still further,this invention also is directed to methods for producing an inbred maizeline PH0GC-derived maize plant by crossing inbred maize line PH0GC witha second maize plant and growing the progeny seed, and repeating thecrossing and growing steps with the inbred maize line PH0GC-derivedplant from 0 to 5 times. Thus, any such methods using the inbred maizeline PH0GC are part of this invention: selfing, backcrosses, hybridproduction, crosses to populations, and the like. All plants producedusing inbred maize line PH0GC as a parent are within the scope of thisinvention, including plants derived from inbred maize line PH0GC.Advantageously, the inbred maize line is used in crosses with other,different, maize inbreds to produce first generation (F₁) maize hybridseeds and plants with superior characteristics.

[0129] A further embodiment of the invention is a single gene conversionor introgression of the maize plant disclosed herein in which the geneor genes of interest (encoding the desired trait) are introduced throughtraditional (non-transformation) breeding techniques, such asbackcrossing (Hallauer et al., 1988). One or more genes may beintroduced using these techniques. Desired traits transferred throughthis process include, but are not limited to, waxy starch, nutritionalenhancements, industrial enhancements, disease resistance, insectresistance, herbicide resistance and yield enhancements. The gene ofinterest is transferred from the donor parent to the recurrent parent,in this case, the maize plant disclosed herein. These single gene traitsmay result from either the transfer of a dominant allele or a recessiveallele. Selection of progeny containing the trait of interest is done bydirect selection for a trait associated with a dominant allele.Selection of progeny for a trait that is transferred via a recessiveallele, such as the waxy starch characteristic, requires growing andselfing the first backcross to determine which plants carry therecessive alleles. Recessive traits may require additional progenytesting in successive backcross generations to determine the presence ofthe gene of interest.

[0130] It should be understood that the inbred can, through routinemanipulation of cytoplasmic or other factors, be produced in amale-sterile form. Such embodiments are also contemplated within thescope of the present claims.

[0131] As used herein, the term plant includes plant cells, plantprotoplasts, plant cell tissue cultures from which maize plants can beregenerated, plant calli, plant clumps, and plant cells that are intactin plants or parts of plants, such as embryos, pollen, ovules, seeds,flowers, kernels, ears, cobs, leaves, husks, stalks, roots, root tips,anthers, silk and the like.

[0132] Duncan, Williams, Zehr, and Widholm, Planta (1985) 165:322-332reflects that 97% of the plants cultured that produced callus werecapable of plant regeneration. Subsequent experiments with both inbredsand hybrids produced 91% regenerable callus that produced plants. In afurther study in 1988, Songstad, Duncan & Widholm in Plant Cell Reports(1988), 7:262-265 reports several media additions that enhanceregenerability of callus of two inbred lines. Other published reportsalso indicated that “nontraditional” tissues are capable of producingsomatic embryogenesis and plant regeneration. K. P. Rao, et al., MaizeGenetics Cooperation Newsletter, 60:64-65 (1986), refers to somaticembryogenesis from glume callus cultures and B. V. Conger, et al., PlantCell Reports, 6:345-347 (1987) indicates somatic embryogenesis from thetissue cultures of maize leaf segments. Thus, it is clear from theliterature that the state of the art is such that these methods ofobtaining plants are, and were, “conventional” in the sense that theyare routinely used and have a very high rate of success.

[0133] Tissue culture of maize is described in European PatentApplication, Publication No. 160,390, incorporated herein by reference.Maize tissue culture procedures are also described in Green and Rhodes,“Plant Regeneration in Tissue Culture of Maize,” Maize for BiologicalResearch (Plant Molecular Biology Association, Charlottesville, Va.1982, at 367-372) and in Duncan, et al., “The Production of CallusCapable of Plant Regeneration from Immature Embryos of Numerous Zea MaysGenotypes,” 165 Planta 322-332 (1985). Thus, another aspect of thisinvention is to provide cells which upon growth and differentiationproduce maize plants having the physiological and morphologicalcharacteristics of inbred line PH0GC.

[0134] The utility of inbred maize line PH0GC also extends to crosseswith other species. Commonly, suitable species will be of the familyGraminaceae, and especially of the genera Zea, Tripsacum, Coix,Schlerachne, Polytoca, Chionachne, and Trilobachne, of the tribeMaydeae. Potentially suitable for crosses with PH0GC may be the variousvarieties of grain sorghum, Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench.

[0135] Transformation of Maize

[0136] With the advent of molecular biological techniques that haveallowed the isolation and characterization of genes that encode specificprotein products, scientists in the field of plant biology developed astrong interest in engineering the genome of plants to contain andexpress foreign genes, or additional, or modified versions of native orendogenous genes (perhaps driven by different promoters) in order toalter the traits of a plant in a specific manner. Such foreign,additional and/or modified genes are referred to herein collectively as“transgenes”. Over the last fifteen to twenty years several methods forproducing transgenic plants have been developed, and the presentinvention, in particular embodiments, also relates to transformedversions of the claimed inbred maize line PH0GC.

[0137] Plant transformation involves the construction of an expressionvector which will function in plant cells. Such a vector comprises DNAcomprising a gene under control of or operatively linked to a regulatoryelement (for example, a promoter). The expression vector may contain oneor more such operably linked gene/regulatory element combinations. Thevector(s) may be in the form of a plasmid, and can be used, alone or incombination with other plasmids, to provide transformed maize plants,using transformation methods as described below to incorporatetransgenes into the genetic material of the maize plant(s).

[0138] Expression Vectors For Maize Transformation

[0139] Marker Genes

[0140] Expression vectors include at least one genetic marker, operablylinked to a regulatory element (a promoter, for example) that allowstransformed cells containing the marker to be either recovered bynegative selection, i.e. inhibiting growth of cells that do not containthe selectable marker gene, or by positive selection, i.e., screeningfor the product encoded by the genetic marker. Many commonly usedselectable marker genes for plant transformation are well known in thetransformation arts, and include, for example, genes that code forenzymes that metabolically detoxify a selective chemical agent which maybe an antibiotic or a herbicide, or genes that encode an altered targetwhich is insensitive to the inhibitor. A few positive selection methodsare also known in the art.

[0141] One commonly used selectable marker gene for plant transformationis the neomycin phosphotransferase II (nptII) gene, isolated fromtransposon Tn5, which when placed under the control of plant regulatorysignals confers resistance to kanamycin. Fraley et al., Proc. Natl.Acad. Sci. U.S.A., 80: 4803 (1983). Another commonly used selectablemarker gene is the hygromycin phosphotransferase gene which confersresistance to the antibiotic hygromycin. Vanden Elzen et al., Plant Mol.Biol., : 299 (1985).

[0142] Additional selectable marker genes of bacterial origin thatconfer resistance to antibiotics include gentamycin acetyl transferase,streptomycin phosphotransferase, aminoglycoside-3′-adenyl transferase,the bleomycin resistance determinant. Hayford et al., Plant Physiol. 86:1216 (1988), Jones et al., Mol. Gen. Genet., 210: 86 (1987), Svab etal., Plant Mol. Biol. 14: 197 (1990), Hille et al., Plant Mol. Biol. 7:171 (1986). Other selectable marker genes confer resistance toherbicides such as glyphosate, glufosinate or broxynil. Comai et al.,Nature 317: 741-744 (1985), Gordon-Kamm et al., Plant Cell 2: 603-618(1990) and Stalker et al., Science 242:419-423 (1988).

[0143] Other selectable marker genes for plant transformation are not ofbacterial origin. These genes include, for example, mouse dihydrofolatereductase, plant 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase and plantacetolactate synthase. Eichholtz et al., Somatic Cell Mol. Genet. 13: 67(1987), Shah et al., Science 233: 478 (1986), Charest et al., Plant CellRep. 8: 643 (1990).

[0144] Another class of marker genes for plant transformation requirescreening of presumptively transformed plant cells rather than directgenetic selection of transformed cells for resistance to a toxicsubstance such as an antibiotic. These genes are particularly useful toquantify or visualize the spatial pattern of expression of a gene inspecific tissues and are frequently referred to as reporter genesbecause they can be fused to a gene or gene regulatory sequence for theinvestigation of gene expression. Commonly used genes for screeningpresumptively transformed cells include β-glucuronidase (GUS),β-galactosidase, luciferase and chloramphenicol acetyltransferase.Jefferson, R. A., Plant Mol. Biol. Rep. 5: 387 (1987), Teeri et al.,EMBO J. 8: 343 (1989), Koncz et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 84:131 (1987), De Block et al., EMBO J. 3: 1681 (1984). Another approach tothe identification of relatively rare transformation events has been useof a gene that encodes a dominant constitutive regulator of the Zea maysanthocyanin pigmentation pathway. Ludwig et al., Science 247: 449(1990).

[0145] Recently, in vivo methods for visualizing GUS activity that donot require destruction of plant tissue have been made available.Molecular Probes Publication 2908, Imagene Green™, p. 1-4 (1993) andNaleway et al., J. Cell Biol. 115: 15Ia (1991). However, these in vivomethods for visualizing GUS activity have not proven useful for recoveryof transformed cells because of low sensitivity, high fluorescentbackgrounds, and limitations associated with the use of luciferase genesas selectable markers.

[0146] More recently, a gene encoding Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP)has been utilized as a marker for gene expression in prokaryotic andeukaryotic cells. Chalfie et al., Science 263: 802 (1994). GFP andmutants of GFP may be used as screenable markers.

[0147] Promoters

[0148] Genes included in expression vectors must be driven by anucleotide sequence comprising a regulatory element, for example, apromoter. Several types of promoters are now well known in thetransformation arts, as are other regulatory elements that can be usedalone or in combination with promoters.

[0149] As used herein “promoter” includes reference to a region of DNAupstream from the start of transcription and involved in recognition andbinding of RNA polymerase and other proteins to initiate transcription.A “plant promoter” is a promoter capable of initiating transcription inplant cells. Examples of promoters under developmental control includepromoters that preferentially initiate transcription in certain tissues,such as leaves, roots, seeds, fibers, xylem vessels, tracheids, orsclerenchyma. Such promoters are referred to as “tissue-preferred”.Promoters which initiate transcription only in certain tissues arereferred to as “tissue-specific”. A “cell type” specific promoterprimarily drives expression in certain cell types in one or more organs,for example, vascular cells in roots or leaves. An “inducible” promoteris a promoter which is under environmental control. Examples ofenvironmental conditions that may effect transcription by induciblepromoters include anaerobic conditions or the presence of light.Tissue-specific, tissue-preferred, cell type specific, and induciblepromoters constitute the class of “non-constitutive” promoters. A“constitutive” promoter is a promoter which is active under mostenvironmental conditions.

[0150] A. Inducible Promoters

[0151] An inducible promoter is operably linked to a gene for expressionin maize. Optionally, the inducible promoter is operably linked to anucleotide sequence encoding a signal sequence which is operably linkedto a gene for expression in maize. With an inducible promoter the rateof transcription increases in response to an inducing agent.

[0152] Any inducible promoter can be used in the instant invention. SeeWard et al. Plant Mol. Biol. 22: 361-366 (1993). Exemplary induciblepromoters include, but are not limited to, that from the ACEI systemwhich responds to copper (Mett et al. PNAS 90: 4567-4571 (1993)); In2gene from maize which responds to benzenesulfonamide herbicide safeners(Hershey et al., Mol. Gen. Genetics 227: 229-237 (1991) and Gatz et al.,Mol. Gen. Genetics 243: 32-38 (1994)) or Tet repressor from Tn10 (Gatzet al., Mol. Gen. Genet. 227: 229-237 (1991). A particularly preferredinducible promoter is a promoter that responds to an inducing agent towhich plants do not normally respond. An exemplary inducible promoter isthe inducible promoter from a steroid hormone gene, the transcriptionalactivity of which is induced by a glucocorticosteroid hormone. Schena etal., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 88: 0421 (1991).

[0153] B. Constitutive Promoters

[0154] A constitutive promoter is operably linked to a gene forexpression in maize or the constitutive promoter is operably linked to anucleotide sequence encoding a signal sequence which is operably linkedto a gene for expression in maize.

[0155] Many different constitutive promoters can be utilized in theinstant invention. Exemplary constitutive promoters include, but are notlimited to, the promoters from plant viruses such as the 35S promoterfrom CaMV (Odell et al., Nature 313: 810-812 (1985) and the promotersfrom such genes as rice actin (McElroy et al., Plant Cell 2: 163-171(1990)); ubiquitin (Christensen et al., Plant Mol. Biol 12: 619-632(1989) and Christensen et al., Plant Mol. Biol. 18: 675-689 (1992)):pEMU (Last et al., Theor. Appl. Genet. 81: 581-588 (1991)); MAS (Veltenet al., EMBO J. 3:2723-2730 (1984)) and maize H3 histone (Lepetit etal., Mol. Gen. Genet. 231: 276-285 (1992) and Atanassova et al., PlantJournal 2 (3): 291-300 (1992)).

[0156] The ALS promoter, a XbaI/NcoI fragment 5′ to the Brassica napusALS3 structural gene (or a nucleotide sequence that has substantialsequence similarity to said XbaI/NcoI fragment), represents aparticularly useful constitutive promoter. See PCT ApplicationWO96/30530.

[0157] C. Tissue-specific or Tissue-Preferred Promoters

[0158] A tissue-specific promoter is operably linked to a gene forexpression in maize. Optionally, the tissue-specific promoter isoperably linked to a nucleotide sequence encoding a signal sequencewhich is operably linked to a gene for expression in maize. Plantstransformed with a gene of interest operably linked to a tissue-specificpromoter produce the protein product of the transgene exclusively, orpreferentially, in a specific tissue.

[0159] Any tissue-specific or tissue-preferred promoter can be utilizedin the instant invention. Exemplary tissue-specific or tissue-preferredpromoters include, but are not limited to, a root-preferred promoter,such as that from the phaseolin gene (Murai et al., Science 23:476-482(1983) and Sengupta-Gopalan et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA82:3320-3324 (1985)); a leaf-specific and light-induced promoter such asthat from cab or rubisco (Simpson et al., EMBO J. 4(11): 2723-2729(1985) and Timko et al., Nature 318: 579-582 (1985)); an anther-specificpromoter such as that from LAT52 (Twell et al., Mol. Gen. Genet.217:240-245 (1989)); a pollen-specific promoter such as that from Zm13(Guerrero et al., Mol. Gen. Genet. 224: 161-168 (1993)) or amicrospore-preferred promoter such as that from apg (Twell et al., Sex.Plant Reprod. 6: 217-224 (1993).

[0160] Signal Sequences For Targeting Proteins to SubcellularCompartments

[0161] Transport of protein produced by transgenes to a subcellularcompartment such as the chloroplast, vacuole, peroxisome, glyoxysome,cell wall or mitochondrion, or for secretion into the apoplast, isaccomplished by means of operably linking the nucleotide sequenceencoding a signal sequence to the 5′ and/or 3′ region of a gene encodingthe protein of interest. Targeting sequences at the 5′ and/or 3′ end ofthe structural gene may determine, during protein synthesis andprocessing, where the encoded protein is ultimately compartmentalized.The presence of a signal sequence directs a polypeptide to either anintracellular organelle or subcellular compartment or for secretion tothe apoplast. Many signal sequences are known in the art. See, forexample, Becker et al., Plant Mol. Biol. 20: 49 (1992), Close, P. S.,Master's Thesis, Iowa State University (1993), Knox, C., et al.,“Structure and Organization of Two Divergent Alpha-Amylase Genes FromBarley”, Plant Mol. Biol. 9: 3-17 (1987), Lerner et al., Plant Physiol.91: 124-129 (1989), Fontes et al., Plant Cell 3: 483-496 (1991),Matsuoka et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 88: 834 (1991), Gould et al., J.Cell Biol 108:1657 (1989), Creissen et al., Plant J. 2: 129 (1991),Kalderon, D., Robers, B., Richardson, W., and Smith A., “A short aminoacid sequence able to specify nuclear location”, Cell 39 :499-509(1984), Stiefel, V., Ruiz-Avila, L., Raz R., Valles M., Gomez J., PagesM., Martinez-lzquierdo J., Ludevid M., Landale J., Nelson T., andPuigdomenech P., “Expression of a maize cell wall hydroxyproline-richglycoprotein gene in early leaf and root vascular differentiation”,Plant Cell 2: 785-793 (1990).

[0162] Foreign Protein Genes and Agronomic Genes

[0163] With transgenic plants according to the present invention, aforeign protein can be produced in commercial quantities. Thus,techniques for the selection and propagation of transformed plants,which are well understood in the art, yield a plurality of transgenicplants which are harvested in a conventional manner, and a foreignprotein then can be extracted from a tissue of interest or from totalbiomass. Protein extraction from plant biomass can be accomplished byknown methods which are discussed, for example, by Heney and Orr, Anal.Biochem. 114: 92-6 (1981).

[0164] According to a preferred embodiment, the transgenic plantprovided for commercial production of foreign protein is maize. Inanother preferred embodiment, the biomass of interest is seed. For therelatively small number of transgenic plants that show higher levels ofexpression, a genetic map can be generated, primarily via conventionalRestriction Fragment Length Polymorphisms (RFLP), Polymerase ChainReaction (PCR) analysis, and Simple Sequence Repeats (SSR) whichidentifies the approximate chromosomal location of the integrated DNAmolecule. For exemplary methodologies in this regard, see Glick andThompson, METHODS IN PLANT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND BIOTECHNOLOGY 269-284(CRC Press, Boca Raton, 1993). Map information concerning chromosomallocation is useful for proprietary protection of a subject transgenicplant. If unauthorized propagation is undertaken and crosses made withother germplasm, the map of the integration region can be compared tosimilar maps for suspect plants, to determine if the latter have acommon parentage with the subject plant. Map comparisons would involvehybridizations, RFLP, PCR, SSR and sequencing, all of which areconventional techniques.

[0165] Likewise, by means of the present invention, agronomic genes canbe expressed in transformed plants. More particularly, plants can begenetically engineered to express various phenotypes of agronomicinterest. Exemplary genes implicated in this regard include, but are notlimited to, those categorized below.

[0166] 1. Genes That Confer Resistance To Pests or Disease And ThatEncode:

[0167] (A) Plant disease resistance genes. Plant defenses are oftenactivated by specific interaction between the product of a diseaseresistance gene (R) in the plant and the product of a correspondingavirulence (Avr) gene in the pathogen. A plant variety can betransformed with cloned resistance gene to engineer plants that areresistant to specific pathogen strains. See, for example Jones et al.,Science 266: 789 (1994) (cloning of the tomato Cf-9 gene for resistanceto Cladosporium fulvum); Martin et al., Science 262: 1432 (1993) (tomatoPto gene for resistance to Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato encodes aprotein kinase); Mindrinos et al., Cell 78: 1089 (1994) (ArabidopsisRSP2 gene for resistance to Pseudomonas syringae).

[0168] (B) A Bacillus thuringiensis protein, a derivative thereof or asynthetic polypeptide modeled thereon. See, for example, Geiser et al.,Gene 48: 109 (1986), who disclose the cloning and nucleotide sequence ofa Bt δ-endotoxin gene. Moreover, DNA molecules encoding 8-endotoxingenes can be purchased from American Type Culture Collection (Rockville,Md.), for example, under ATCC Accession Nos. 40098, 67136, 31995 and31998.

[0169] (C) A lectin. See, for example, the disclosure by Van Damme etal., Plant Molec. Biol. 24: 25 (1994), who disclose the nucleotidesequences of several Clivia miniata mannose-binding lectin genes.

[0170] (D) A vitamin-binding protein such as avidin. See PCT ApplicationUS93/06487 the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.The application teaches the use of avidin and avidin homologues aslarvicides against insect pests.

[0171] (E) An enzyme inhibitor, for example, a protease inhibitor or anamylase inhibitor. See, for example, Abe et al., J. Biol. Chem. 262:16793 (1987) (nucleotide sequence of rice cysteine proteinaseinhibitor), Huub et al., Plant Molec. Biol. 21: 985 (1993) (nucleotidesequence of cDNA encoding tobacco proteinase inhibitor I), and Sumitaniet al., Biosci. Biotech. Biochem. 57: 1243 (1993) (nucleotide sequenceof Streptomyces nitrosporeus α-amylase inhibitor).

[0172] (F) An insect-specific hormone or pheromone such as anecdysteroid and juvenile hormone, a variant thereof, a mimetic basedthereon, or an antagonist or agonist thereof. See, for example, thedisclosure by Hammock et al., Nature 344: 458 (1990), of baculovirusexpression of cloned juvenile hormone esterase, an inactivator ofjuvenile hormone.

[0173] (G) An insect-specific peptide or neuropeptide which, uponexpression, disrupts the physiology of the affected pest. For example,see the disclosures of Regan, J. Biol. Chem. 269: 9 (1994) (expressioncloning yields DNA coding for insect diuretic hormone receptor), andPratt et al., Biochem. Biophys. Res. Comm. 163: 1243 (1989) (anallostatin is identified in Diploptera puntata). See also U.S. Pat. No.5,266,317 to Tomalski et al., who disclose genes encodinginsect-specific, paralytic neurotoxins.

[0174] (H) An insect-specific venom produced in nature by a snake, awasp, etc. For example, see Pang et al., Gene 116: 165 (1992), fordisclosure of heterologous expression in plants of a gene coding for ascorpion insectotoxic peptide.

[0175] (I) An enzyme responsible for an hyperaccumulation of amonterpene, a sesquiterpene, a steroid, hydroxamic acid, aphenylpropanoid derivative or another non-protein molecule withinsecticidal activity.

[0176] (J) An enzyme involved in the modification, including thepost-translational modification, of a biologically active molecule; forexample, a glycolytic enzyme, a proteolytic enzyme, a lipolytic enzyme,a nuclease, a cyclase, a transaminase, an esterase, a hydrolase, aphosphatase, a kinase, a phosphorylase, a polymerase, an elastase, achitinase and a glucanase, whether natural or synthetic. See PCTApplication WO 93/02197 in the name of Scott et al., which discloses thenucleotide sequence of a callase gene. DNA molecules which containchitinase-encoding sequences can be obtained, for example, from the ATCCunder Accession Nos. 39637 and 67152. See also Kramer et al., InsectBiochem. Molec. Biol. 23: 691 (1993), who teach the nucleotide sequenceof a cDNA encoding tobacco hookworm chitinase, and Kawalleck et al.,Plant Molec. Biol. 21: 673 (1993), who provide the nucleotide sequenceof the parsley ubi4-2 polyubiquitin gene.

[0177] (K) A molecule that stimulates signal transduction. For example,see the disclosure by Botella et al., Plant Molec. Biol. 24: 757 (1994),of nucleotide sequences for mung bean calmodulin cDNA clones, and Griesset al., Plant Physiol. 104: 1467 (1994), who provide the nucleotidesequence of a maize calmodulin cDNA clone.

[0178] (L) A hydrophobic moment peptide. See PCT Application WO95/16776(disclosure of peptide derivatives of Tachyplesin which inhibit fungalplant pathogens) and PCT Application WO95/18855 (teaches syntheticantimicrobial peptides that confer disease resistance), the respectivecontents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

[0179] (M) A membrane permease, a channel former or a channel blocker.For example, see the disclosure by Jaynes et al., Plant Sci. 89: 43(1993), of heterologous expression of a cecropin-β lytic peptide analogto render transgenic tobacco plants resistant to Pseudomonassolanacearum.

[0180] (N) A viral-invasive protein or a complex toxin derivedtherefrom. For example, the accumulation of viral coat proteins intransformed plant cells imparts resistance to viral infection and/ordisease development effected by the virus from which the coat proteingene is derived, as well as by related viruses. See Beachy et al., Ann.Rev. Phytopathol. 28: 451 (1990). Coat protein-mediated resistance hasbeen conferred upon transformed plants against alfalfa mosaic virus,cucumber mosaic virus, tobacco streak virus, potato virus X, potatovirus Y, tobacco etch virus, tobacco rattle virus and tobacco mosaicvirus. Id.

[0181] (O) An insect-specific antibody or an immunotoxin derivedtherefrom. Thus, an antibody targeted to a critical metabolic functionin the insect gut would inactivate an affected enzyme, killing theinsect. Cf. Taylor et al., Abstract #497, SEVENTH INT'L SYMPOSIUM ONMOLECULAR PLANT-MICROBE INTERACTIONS (Edinburgh, Scotland, 1994)(enzymatic inactivation in transgenic tobacco via production ofsingle-chain antibody fragments).

[0182] (P) A virus-specific antibody. See, for example, Tavladoraki etal., Nature 366: 469 (1993), who show that transgenic plants expressingrecombinant antibody genes are protected from virus attack.

[0183] (Q) A developmental-arrestive protein produced in nature by apathogen or a parasite. Thus, fungal endo α-1,4-D-polygalacturonasesfacilitate fungal colonization and plant nutrient release bysolubilizing plant cell wall homo-α-1,4-D-galacturonase. See Lamb etal., Bio/Technology 10: 1436 (1992). The cloning and characterization ofa gene which encodes a bean endopolygalacturonase-inhibiting protein isdescribed by Toubart et al., Plant J. 2: 367 (1992).

[0184] (R) A developmental-arrestive protein produced in nature by aplant. For example, Logemann et al., Bio/Technology 10: 305 (1992), haveshown that transgenic plants expressing the barley ribosome-inactivatinggene have an increased resistance to fungal disease.

[0185] 2. Genes That Confer Resistance To A Herbicide, For Example:

[0186] (A) A herbicide that inhibits the growing point or meristem, suchas an imidazolinone or a sulfonylurea. Exemplary genes in this categorycode for mutant ALS and AHAS enzyme as described, for example, by Lee etal., EMBO J. 7: 1241 (1988), and Miki et al., Theor. Appl. Genet. 80:449 (1990), respectively.

[0187] (B) Glyphosate (resistance imparted by mutant5-enolpyruvl-3-phosphikimate synthase (EPSP) and aroA genes,respectively) and other phosphono compounds such as glufosinate(phosphinothricin acetyl transferase (PAT) and Streptomyceshygroscopicus phosphinothricin acetyl transferase (bar) genes), andpyridinoxy or phenoxy proprionic acids and cycloshexones (ACCaseinhibitor-encoding genes). See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,940,835 toShah et al., which discloses the nucleotide sequence of a form of EPSPwhich can confer glyphosate resistance. A DNA molecule encoding a mutantaroA gene can be obtained under ATCC Accession No. 39256, and thenucleotide sequence of the mutant gene is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.4,769,061 to Comai. European Patent Application No. 0 333 033 to Kumadaet al. and U.S. Pat. No. 4,975,374 to Goodman et al. disclose nucleotidesequences of glutamine synthetase genes which confer resistance toherbicides such as L-phosphinothricin. The nucleotide sequence of aphosphinothricin-acetyl-transferase gene is provided in EuropeanApplication No. 0 242 246 to Leemans et al. De Greef et al.,Bio/Technology 7: 61 (1989), describe the production of transgenicplants that express chimeric bar genes coding for phosphinothricinacetyl transferase activity. Exemplary of genes conferring resistance tophenoxy proprionic acids and cycloshexones, such as sethoxydim andhaloxyfop, are the Acc1-S1, Acc1-S2 and Acc1-S3 genes described byMarshall et al., Theor. Appl. Genet. 83: 435 (1992).

[0188] (C) A herbicide that inhibits photosynthesis, such as a triazine(psbA and gs+genes) and a benzonitrile (nitrilase gene). Przibilla etal., Plant Cell 3: 169 (1991), describe the transformation ofChlamydomonas with plasmids encoding mutant psbA genes. Nucleotidesequences for nitrilase genes are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,810,648to Stalker, and DNA molecules containing these genes are available underATCC Accession Nos. 53435, 67441 and 67442. Cloning and expression ofDNA coding for a glutathione S-transferase is described by Hayes et al.,Biochem. J. 285: 173 (1992).

[0189] 3. Genes That Confer Or Contribute To A Value-Added Trait, SuchAs:

[0190] (A) Modified fatty acid metabolism, for example, by transforminga plant with an antisense gene of stearoyl-ACP desaturase to increasestearic acid content of the plant. See Knultzon et al., Proc. Natl.Acad. Sci. USA 89: 2624 (1992).

[0191] (B) Decreased phytate content

[0192] (1) Introduction of a phytase-encoding gene would enhancebreakdown of phytate, adding more free phosphate to the transformedplant. For example, see Van Hartingsveldt et al., Gene 127: 87 (1993),for a disclosure of the nucleotide sequence of an Aspergillus nigerphytase gene.

[0193] (2) A gene could be introduced that reduces phytate content. Inmaize, this, for example, could be accomplished, by cloning and thenre-introducing DNA associated with the single allele which isresponsible for maize mutants characterized by low levels of phyticacid. See Raboy et al., Maydica 35: 383 (1990).

[0194] (C) Modified carbohydrate composition effected, for example, bytransforming plants with a gene coding for an enzyme that alters thebranching pattern of starch. See Shiroza et al., J. Bacteriol. 170: 810(1988) (nucleotide sequence of Streptococcus mutans fructosyltransferasegene), Steinmetz et al., Mol. Gen. Genet. 200: 220 (1985) (nucleotidesequence of Bacillus subtilis levansucrase gene), Pen et al.,Bio/Technology 10: 292 (1992) (production of transgenic plants thatexpress Bacillus licheniformis α-amylase), Elliot et al., Plant Molec.Biol. 21: 515 (1993) (nucleotide sequences of tomato invertase genes),Søgaard et al., J. Biol. Chem. 268: 22480 (1993) (site-directedmutagenesis of barley α-amylase gene), and Fisher et al., Plant Physiol.102: 1045 (1993) (maize endosperm starch branching enzyme II).

[0195] Methods for Maize Transformation

[0196] Numerous methods for plant transformation have been developed,including biological and physical, plant transformation protocols. See,for example, Miki et al., “Procedures for Introducing Foreign DNA intoPlants” in Methods in Plant Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Glick,B. R. and Thompson, J. E. Eds. (CRC Press, Inc., Boca Raton, 1993) pages67-88. In addition, expression vectors and in vitro culture methods forplant cell or tissue transformation and regeneration of plants areavailable. See, for example, Gruber et al., “Vectors for PlantTransformation” in Methods in Plant Molecular Biology and Biotechnology,Glick, B. R. and Thompson, J. E. Eds. (CRC Press, Inc., Boca Raton,1993) pages 89-119.

[0197] A. Agrobacterium-mediated Transformation

[0198] One method for introducing an expression vector into plants isbased on the natural transformation system of Agrobacterium. See, forexample, Horsch et al., Science 227: 1229 (1985). A. tumefaciens and A.rhizogenes are plant pathogenic soil bacteria which geneticallytransform plant cells. The Ti and Ri plasmids of A. tumefaciens and A.rhizogenes, respectively, carry genes responsible for genetictransformation of the plant. See, for example, Kado, C. I., Crit. Rev.Plant. Sci. 10: 1 (1991). Descriptions of Agrobacterium vector systemsand methods for Agrobacterium-mediated gene transfer are provided byGruber et al., supra, Miki et al., supra, and Moloney et al., Plant CellReports 8: 238 (1989). See also, U.S. Pat. No. 5,591,616, issued Jan.7,1997.

[0199] B. Direct Gene Transfer

[0200] Despite the fact the host range for Agrobacterium-mediatedtransformation is broad, some major cereal crop species and gymnospermshave generally been recalcitrant to this mode of gene transfer, eventhough some success has recently been achieved in rice and maize. Hieiet al., The Plant Journal 6: 271-282 (1994); U.S. Pat. No. 5,591,616,issued Jan. 7, 1997. Several methods of plant transformation,collectively referred to as direct gene transfer, have been developed asan alternative to Agrobacterium-mediated transformation.

[0201] A generally applicable method of plant transformation ismicroprojectile-mediated transformation wherein DNA is carried on thesurface of microprojectiles measuring 1 to 4 μm. The expression vectoris introduced into plant tissues with a biolistic device thataccelerates the microprojectiles to speeds of 300 to 600 m/s which issufficient to penetrate plant cell walls and membranes. Sanford et al.,Part. Sci. Technol. 5: 27 (1987), Sanford, J. C., Trends Biotech. 6: 299(1988), Klein et al., Bio/Technology 6: 559-563 (1988), Sanford, J. C.,Physiol Plant 79: 206 (1990), Klein et al., Biotechnology 10: 268(1992). In maize, several target tissues can be bombarded withDNA-coated microprojectiles in order to produce transgenic plants,including, for example, callus (Type I or Type II), immature embryos,and meristematic tissue.

[0202] Another method for physical delivery of DNA to plants issonication of target cells. Zhang et al., Bio/Technology 9: 996 (1991).Alternatively, liposome or spheroplast fusion have been used tointroduce expression vectors into plants. Deshayes et al., EMBO J., 4:2731 (1985), Christou et al., Proc Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 84: 3962(1987). Direct uptake of DNA into protoplasts using CaCl₂ precipitation,polyvinyl alcohol or poly-L-ornithine have also been reported. Hain etal., Mol. Gen. Genet. 199: 161 (1985) and Draper et al., Plant CellPhysiol. 23: 451 (1982). Electroporation of protoplasts and whole cellsand tissues have also been described. Donn et al., In Abstracts of VIIthInternational Congress on Plant Cell and Tissue Culture IAPTC, A2-38, p53 (1990); D'Halluin et al., Plant Cell 4: 1495-1505 (1992) and Spenceret al., Plant Mol. Biol. 24: 51-61 (1994).

[0203] Following transformation of maize target tissues, expression ofthe above-described selectable marker genes allows for preferentialselection of transformed cells, tissues and/or plants, usingregeneration and selection methods now well known in the art. Forexample, transformed maize immature embryos.

[0204] The foregoing methods for transformation would typically be usedfor producing transgenic inbred lines. Transgenic inbred lines couldthen be crossed, with another (non-transformed or transformed) inbredline, in order to produce a transgenic hybrid maize plant.Alternatively, a genetic trait which has been engineered into aparticular maize line using the foregoing transformation techniquescould be moved into another line using traditional backcrossingtechniques that are well known in the plant breeding arts. For example,a backcrossing approach could be used to move an engineered trait from apublic, non-elite line into an elite line, or from a hybrid maize plantcontaining a foreign gene in its genome into a line or lines which donot contain that gene. As used herein, “crossing” can refer to a simpleX by Y cross, or the process of backcrossing, depending on the context.

[0205] Industrial Applicability

[0206] Maize is used as human food, livestock feed, and as raw materialin industry. The food uses of maize, in addition to human consumption ofmaize kernels, include both products of dry- and wet-milling industries.The principal products of maize dry milling are grits, meal and flour.The maize wet-milling industry can provide maize starch, maize syrups,and dextrose for food use. Maize oil is recovered from maize germ, whichis a by-product of both dry- and wet-milling industries.

[0207] Maize, including both grain and non-grain portions of the plant,is also used extensively as livestock feed, primarily for beef cattle,dairy cattle, hogs, and poultry.

[0208] Industrial uses of maize include production of ethanol, maizestarch in the wet-milling industry and maize flour in the dry-millingindustry. The industrial applications of maize starch and flour arebased on functional properties, such as viscosity, film formation,adhesive properties, and ability to suspend particles. The maize starchand flour have application in the paper and textile industries. Otherindustrial uses include applications in adhesives, building materials,foundry binders, laundry starches, explosives, oil-well muds, and othermining applications.

[0209] Plant parts other than the grain of maize are also used inindustry: for example, stalks and husks are made into paper andwallboard and cobs are used for fuel and to make charcoal.

[0210] The seed of inbred maize line PH0GC, the plant produced from theinbred seed, the hybrid maize plant produced from the crossing of theinbred, hybrid seed, and various parts of the hybrid maize plant andtransgenic versions of the foregoing, can be utilized for human food,livestock feed, and as a raw material in industry.

PERFORMANCE EXAMPLES OF PH0GC

[0211] In the examples that follow, the traits and characteristics ofinbred maize line PH0GC are given as a line. The data collected oninbred maize line PH0GC is presented for the key characteristics andtraits.

Inbred Comparisons

[0212] The results in Table 2 compare inbred PH0GC to inbred PH36E. Theresults show inbred PH0GC flowers (GDU SHD and GDU SLK) significantlyearlier than inbred PH36E.

Inbred By Tester Comparisons

[0213] The results in Table 3 compare the inbred PH0GC and inbred PH16K,when each inbred is crossed to the same tester lines. The PH0GC hybridspresent a significantly taller plant than the PH16K hybrids.

Hybrid Comparisons

[0214] The results in Table 4 compare the double cross hybrid consistingof the F1 developed from crossing inbred PH0GC to inbred PH16K crossedto a second F1 developed from crossing inbred PHK05 to inbred PH854 andthe hybrid consisting of the F1 developed from crossing inbred PHK05 toinbred PH16K crossed to inbred PH437. The (PH0GC×PH16K)/(PHK05×PH854)hybrid produces significantly greater yields than the(PHK05×PH16K)/PH437 hybrid, and the (PH0GC×PH16K)/(PHK05×PH854) hybridsheds pollen (GDU SHD) significantly earlier than the(PHK05×PH16K)/PH437 hybrid. The (PH0GC×PH16K)/(PHK05×PH854) hybridpresents a significantly taller plant than the (PHK05×PH16K)/PH437hybrid. TABLE 2 PAIRED INBRED COMPARISON REPORT VARIETY #1 = PH0GCVARIETY #2 = PH36E EGR EST TIL GDU GDU POL TAS PLT EAR RT STK BRT WTHCNT LER SHD SLK SC SZ HT HT LDG LDG STK ABS ABS ABS ABS ABS ABS ABS ABSABS ABS ABS ABS TOTAL SUM 1 5.1 33.8 1.6 92.1 92.2 2.0 2.8 54.3 20.5100.0 69.6 100.0 2 6.4 35.0 1.4 98.3 96.5 3.0 1.8 58.7 20.9 95.5 95.590.5 LOCS 7 6 7 16 17 1 5 5 5 1 1 2 REPS 7 6 7 16 17 1 5 5 5 1 1 2 DIFF1.3 1.2 0.2 6.3 4.3 1.0 1.0 4.3 0.4 4.5 25.9 9.5 PR > T .004# .352 .884.002# .021+ .089* .276 .854 .030+

[0215] TABLE 3 Average Inbred By Tester Performance Comparing PH0GC ToPH16K Crossed To The Same Inbred Testers And Grown In The SameExperiments. BU BU EST STK PLT EAR STA STK DRP ACR ACR MST CNT CNT HT HTGRN LDG EAR ABS % MN % MN % MN % MN % MN % MN % MN % MN % MN TOTAL SUMREPS 17 17 17 21 39 9 9 6 17 28 LOCS 17 17 17 21 39 9 9 6 17 14 PH0GC 8797 107 93 97 98 96 112 99 100 PH16K 89 99 105 97 97 88 93 92 100 100DIFF 1 2 2 4 0 10 3 19 1 0 PR > T 0.88 0.87 0.38 0.33 0.99 0.02 0.690.13 0.75 0.99

[0216] TABLE 4 INBREDS IN HYBRID COMBINATION REPORT VARIETY #1 = (PH0GC× PH16K)/(PHK05 × PH854) VARIETY #2 = (PHK05 × PH16K)/PH437 PRM BU BUTST GDU GDU PLT PRM SHD ACR ACR MST WTA SHD SLK HT ABS ABS ABS % MN % MNABS % MN % MN % MN TOTAL SUM 1 73 71 88.8 94 98 54.5 98 99 102 2 71 7379.5 84 93 54.9 100 99 97 LOCS 7 9 38 38 38 34 27 20 18 REPS 7 9 56 5656 50 42 31 28 DIFF 2 2 9.3 10 6 0.4 2 0 6 PR > T .011+ .072* .013+.018+ .000# .288 .006# .999 .014+ EAR ERT LRT STK STK STK EBT ABT EGR HTLSC LSC LDS LDG LDL STK STK WTH % MN ABS ABS ABS % MN % MN % MN % MN %MN TOTAL SUM 1 99 2.0 2.1 4.7 90 48 102 98 105 2 100 2.0 2.8 6.7 96 90101 91 96 LOCS 18 2 2 3 26 3 11 6 20 REPS 28 2 9 3 32 3 37 11 27 DIFF 10.0 0.7 2.0 7 42 1 7 9 PR > T .761 .999 .500 .225 .059* .139 .940 .209.077* STA DRP TST STK EST HD GRN % MN EAR % MN WT ABS CNT % MN CNT % MNSMT ABS HSK CVR ABS TOTAL SUM 1 101 100 54.4 102 102 89.8 4.0 2 97 10055.2 99 94 87.1 6.0 LOCS 11 19 34 95 26 5 1 REPS 12 25 50 185 31 11 1DIFF 5 0 0.9 3 8 2.7 2.0 PR > T .532 .999 .080* .002# .014+ .641

[0217] Deposits

[0218] Applicant has made a deposit of at least 2500 seeds of InbredMaize Line PH0GC with the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC),Manassas, Va. 20110 USA, ATCC Deposit No. PTA-4523. The seeds depositedwith the ATCC on Jul. 8, 2002 were taken from the deposit maintained byPioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc., 800 Capital Square, 400 LocustStreet, Des Moines, Iowa 50309-2340 since prior to the filing date ofthis application. Access to this deposit will be available during thependency of the application to the Commissioner of Patents andTrademarks and persons determined by the Commissioner to be entitledthereto upon request. Upon allowance of any claims in the application,the Applicant will make the deposit available to the public pursuant to37 C.F.R. § 1.808. This deposit of the Inbred Maize Line PH0GC will bemaintained in the ATCC depository, which is a public depository, for aperiod of 30 years, or 5 years after the most recent request, or for theenforceable life of the patent, whichever is longer, and will bereplaced if it becomes nonviable during that period. Additionally,Applicant has satisfied all the requirements of 37 C.F.R. §§1.801-1.809,including providing an indication of the viability of the sample upondeposit. Applicant imposes no restrictions on the availability to thepublic of the deposited material from the ATCC; however, Applicant hasno authority to waive any restrictions imposed by law on the transfer ofbiological material or its transportation in commerce. Applicant doesnot waive any infringement of his rights granted under this patent orunder the Plant Variety Protection Act (7 USC 2321 et seq.). U.S. PlantVariety Protection of Inbred Maize Line PH0GC has been applied for underApplication No. 200200114.

[0219] The foregoing invention has been described in detail by way ofillustration and example for purposes of clarity and understanding.However, it will be obvious that certain changes and modifications suchas single gene conversions and mutations, somoclonal variants, variantindividuals selected from large populations of the plants of the instantinbred and the like may be practiced within the scope of the invention,as limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A seed comprising at least one set of thechromosomes of maize inbred line PH0GC, representative seed of said linehaving been deposited under ATCC Accession No. PTA-4523.
 2. A maizeplant produced by growing the F1 hybrid maize seed of claim
 1. 3. Amaize plant part of the maize plant of claim
 2. 4. An F1 hybrid maizeseed produced by crossing a plant of maize inbred line designated PH0GC,representative seed of said line having been deposited under ATCCAccession No. PTA-4523, with a different maize plant and harvesting theresultant F1 hybrid maize seed, wherein said F1 hybrid maize seedcomprises two sets of chromosomes and one set of the chromosomes is thesame as maize inbred line PH0GC.
 5. A maize plant produced by growingthe F1 hybrid maize seed of claim
 4. 6. A maize plant part of the maizeplant of claim
 5. 7. An F1 hybrid maize seed comprising an inbred cornplant cell of inbred maize line PH0GC, representative seed of said linehaving been deposited under ATCC Accession No. PTA-4523.
 8. A maizeplant produced by growing the F1 hybrid maize seed of claim
 7. 9. The F1hybrid maize seed of claim 7 wherein the inbred corn plant cellcomprises two sets of chromosomes of maize inbred line PH0GC.
 10. Amaize plant produced by growing the F1 hybrid maize seed of claim 9.